Illinois State Police
News Release

Illinois State Police Trooper Rescues Motorist During Largest March Snowfall in Recent History

Press Release Date:
March 27, 2013
|| Archived October 3, 2014

Quick Thinking ISP Trooper Saves Crash Victim’s Life

Rantoul, IL – Illinois State Police (ISP) Officials are crediting District 10 Trooper Brian Scott, a 12-year veteran of the ISP, with saving the life of a young man who was pinned underneath a 3,000 lb. vehicle.

On Monday, March 25, at approximately 12:33 p.m., Trooper Scott responded to a report of several vehicles in a ditch on I-57 near milepost 255. Due to the severe weather conditions with ice and snow accumulation, multiple vehicles were stranded on the stretch of I-57 and nearby remote roads.

Trooper Scott was on patrol assisting stranded motorists when he was dispatched to a location where several motorists were standing outside their vehicles in the ditch adjacent to the southbound lanes of the interstate. Within seconds of arriving on scene, Trooper Scott witnessed one of the motorists being struck by a Black 2007 Dodge Caliber that was traveling in the southbound lanes. Trooper Scott, who had pulled over on the inner shoulder of the northbound lanes, immediately and without regard for his own safety, ran across the southbound lanes of traffic through several feet of snow to render aid. The victim was pinned in a ditch underneath the Dodge with his legs exposed.

Trooper Scott calmly assured the trapped victim that help was on the way. Trooper Scott also sought the assistance of motorists and passengers on the scene. Trooper Scott asked the driver and passenger of the Dodge to exit the vehicle and he enlisted the help of the Dodge’s driver and another bystander to assist him in lifting the vehicle. The attempt at lifting the vehicle was successful and the victim was able to be pulled from underneath by another person.

After freeing the victim from underneath the vehicle, Trooper Scott rendered aid until paramedics arrived and were able to transport the victim to an area hospital. The injured subject suffered non-life threatening injuries. No other injuries were reported as a result of this incident.

“All of the District 10 Troopers did a phenomenal job assisting motorists during this historical storm and we are especially proud of Trooper Scott’s ability to assess a life threatening situation under stressful and hazardous conditions,” said ISP District 10 Commander David Beasley. “Training and commitment to service are the core principles that guide our officers when they are faced with saving lives and making tough decisions,” Beasley added.

“Thanks to Trooper Scott’s ability to quickly assess the situation, this innocent victim survived a terrible accident that could have turned fatal,” said ISP Director Hiram Grau. “This incident serves as another reminder that hazardous weather conditions can be life threatening and motorists should exercise every safety precaution when driving under extreme weather conditions,” added Grau.

The driver of the Dodge Caliber was later cited for Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident.

The public is reminded that all persons are presumed innocent until the charges are proven in a court of law.